Hard-hit areas looking to future

Unlike the devastating storms of our recent past, Sandy will not be remembered in the mid-Hudson for its rush of floodwaters, mountains of snow or massive damage to homes and property.

BY JOHN SULLIVAN

Unlike the devastating storms of our recent past, Sandy will not be remembered in the mid-Hudson for its rush of floodwaters, mountains of snow or massive damage to homes and property.

Instead, the storm initially feared to bring all three calamities exposed us to another kind of disaster — a sudden scarcity of goods and services.

"Suddenly, we have these vulnerabilities, and we don't have any ways to deal with them," said Mary Makofske, head of Sustainable Warwick.

Makofske's community was one of the hardest hit by power outages, with tens of thousands of customers affected throughout the town. Those without power drove to neighboring communities for gas, groceries, cash, even prescription refills, only to find long lines, shortages and a lack of working technology such as credit card machines.

Keeping these essential services operating in the event of another prolonged power outage should be a focus of planning for future storms, some government leaders and observers say.

Gordon Wren, Rockland County's fire and emergency services director, said he will be submitting a policy proposal to require certain businesses such as gas stations to have hookups for generators. Mayor Barbara Moore of Greenwood Lake is thinking about a similar proposal that would require businesses in her community to have generators or the hookups for them.

"I think it's something that we should look at in our code," she said.

Wren suggested possible coordination between the public and private sectors, such as between the county's Health Department and grocery stores, which threw out tons of perishables after Sandy struck.

Orange County Executive Ed Diana declined to comment about lessons from the storm until an action report is completed.

Warwick Supervisor Mike Sweeton said he might consider gasoline rationing in the event of a similar storm — a tactic employed in other communities in recent weeks. He also would focus on improving communications through avenues such as the local radio station, which lost power during Sandy and did not have a generator on hand.

Though he plans to purchase generators, potentially to aid businesses such as pharmacies, if needed, Sweeton said he would consider other options before imposing new requirements on businesses.

In a prolonged crisis, the local middle school could provide shelter to some 50 people for 10 to 14 days, he said. Beyond that, the town would likely have to call for help.

"I think a seven-day event is a long time," he said, referring to some of the longest outages in his town. "Three, four, five days, you survive it, but when you start reaching that week mark, it really starts to tax people and their ability to cope."